The government has dismissed claims by the United Party National Development (UPND) that its leader, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, was not invited to the State funeral for Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga said to the contrary, Mr. Hichilema along with several other political leaders were invited as per the usual standard practice with state functions.
In a statement released to the media, Mr.Malupenga said that contrary claims which were flying around the various social media platforms that the Government of Zambia had neglected to invite the opposition political leaders to Dr. Kaunda’s State funeral, Zambians were watching live on television showing UNIP president Bishop Trevor Mwamba and MMD’s Dr Nevers Mumba among several others in attendance at the main arena in Lusaka’s Showgrounds.
Mr Malupenga said that this was confirmation of the bad faith with which these claims were being made.
“The Court of Public Opinion may wish to take judicial notice that some of the political leaders complaining of non invitation to the State Funeral have never been known to honour all invitations to various state functions, which invitations they proudly and publicly spurn.,” Mr Malupenga said.
“This notwithstanding, the Government has continued and will continue to invite political leaders to the various state functions in line with its standard practice and procedure,” concluded the statement.
Earlier, UPND Presidential spokesperson Spokesman Anthony Bwalya said in a statement his party President Mr. Hichilema had not received any formal invitation to attend the funeral of Dr. Kaunda, while if any such invitation was ever issued to them, no such notice of invitation has ever been delivered to UPND.
Mr Bwalya said Dr. Kaunda was a unifier who knew how to put the country and its people above self and the temptations of partisan politics.
“Our understanding and expectations were that Zambians from all walks of life and from across the whole of the political divide, were going to be given the opportunity to be represented in paying final homage and tribute to the man who sacrificed and gave his all for the country we all call home,” he said.
“We shall always remember and treasure the sacrifice and dutifulness with which Dr. Kaunda served our country and her peoples. We shall continue to mourn with the Zambian people until we put to rest the physical body of Dr. Kaunda.”
However, Green Party President Peter Sinkamba who was in attendance said that every leader of a registered political party was invited and that Cards are collected from Cabinet Office and that they are never delivered to people’s homes or offices, before adding that UPND members were indeed bad citizens.
And UPND Vice President and running mate Mutale Nalumango also posted on her social media page saying:
“HH, the UPND and indeed myself, have been denied of our rights to attend the State funeral for our beloved founding father Dr Kenneth David Kaunda. Our colleagues in government are trying to use the funeral as a political tool to malign and slander others with dissenting views of not respecting our founding father.
Don’t worry HH, NEFIFINE FIKAPWA!”
WHERE THE INVATATIONS SENT BY ZAMPOST ON THE DAY ????
GOVERNMENT OF LIES
Did UPND expect it’s invitation card mailed to them or there’s a way govt invitations to State functions are done? And for what reason would govt invite all other opposition party leaders and only leave out UPND/HH? Come-on now, this is just child!sh and cheap politics!
Iwee @Tikki, Peter Sinkamba of the Green Party just told you where you get your official invitation card…..from the Cabinet “freaking” Office! If other opposition political parties went and collected their invitation cards, what stopped UPND from doing the same? This is the problem of always skipping of State Functions, you forget or don’t learn what the procedures are when invited to one. Or did UPND expect to be treated differently from other political parties? Oh my goodness, what a shame!
Yambayamba – Dont be gullible ..dont you think if cards where there to be collected do you not think Fred Membe wouldn’t have collected. Dont mind Peter Sinkamba he is a PF stooge and lobbying for his own business interests.
Why are we not surprised, they even deny their own FIC, auditor generals reports!! They deny the fact the inflation is at 25%, they deny that debt is $20bilion even after borrowing!!
Producing a fake invitation card after the function is over is just stupidity of the highest order!!
They would have just said they did not invite him because all signatories would have turned their attention to him which would have bruised someone’s small ego!!
like always feeling entitled he wanted to be mentioned by name…this man is full of himself ..he is trying hard to make this funeral all about HH…he should be ashamed of himself
It is this politics of defience that will not take UPND anywhere. The underfive tag appears to be deeply entrenched in this political party. State house is their main goal. Surely we need unit of purpose it cannot be only state house or nothing.
This is extremely ex.tremely s.tupid of HH – whoever advised him on such an amateurish and self-centered act know what they are doing.
Mr Malupenga’s language of late is that of a political carder. In the beginning he used to be one the few shining examples of unbiased technocrats, but not any more.
See Mubita Nawa’s post earlier today…
I was really looking forward to attending the funeral of Dr. Kaunda today with President Hakainde HICHILEMA and other Presidents from our alliance.
I spent all day yesterday on the phone trying to see if we had our invitation to the function. I tried to reach out to our team but no one had it.
President Hakainde can’t force his way to a funeral service with dignitaries and international guests.
I am personally disappointed but not surprised. I know why they did not want HH there.
God bless our nation.
Go well KK.
MCNLIVE
PF messed up on this one and missed a great opportunity but our inept President Lazy Lungu is too insecure and fearful of opposition even with covid-19 social distancing.
Its obvious ECL didn’t want HH invited to the Funeral Rites. ECL wanted to use Kk’s Funeral to endear himself to Visitors as well as with mourning Zambians. The treatment that HH and UPND Alliance got from ECL is not surprising. ECL is panicking and fearing he might lose the August 12 Elections. The writing is on the wall.
As per the usual standard practice with state functions, the dead camp just trashes and shys away from everything state function.
On that flat screen he remains watching as they cause trouble on the streets.
One wonders why he isolates himself. Antisocial he remains. Maybe it’s ritually inspired. Who knows? Anything is possible under the sun.
Not a good trait for someone vying for that office.
I personally saw the card inviting HH to the funeral. What’s wrong with HH and UPND supporters? Is this a political party or a cult?
HH is a disgrace….he thinks Zambian People owe him Presidency and he wants to be treated like a small…all Zambians as a matter of fact anyone who wanted to attend KK funeral was more than welcome as long as they are safe ..i think HH wanted to be seated next Ramaphosa….HH is such wankeeeer
Well Malupenga is either lying or not well informed. Cabinet office said Sean Tembo was designated to represent the opposition and we saw his invitation card. You are worried now that the public has condemned you and as usual you resort to lies.
Lies have no legs!
This HH is a curse to Zambia. Why behave like a child? This man is heartless and things too much of himself. No wonder he was sitting by himself.
Yet another lie by the ruling because we know he was deliberately left out , even the uk based troll can confirm to this . The uk troll says he was shunned because he never attends national prayer days…scary cats if you asked me .
Sometimes rushing to comment without taking a minute to digest what is at issue is unhelpful to self! Both parties government and opposition could be telling the truth! But the way I see it, attendance was selective through manipulation! The civil service has systems it follows to the letter for all state functions requiring issuance of invitations! Its like those “selected” to attend could collect their invitations because they had been furnished with necessary information! Cabinet office would have used ZNBC to communicate when the invitations were ready and where to collect from, was this done? I may not know the level of importance attached to the state funeral invitations but the norm is they would have been delivered by a government messenger carrying a book to certify receipt by…
contd…. ZNBC to communicate when the invitations were ready and where to collect from, was this done? I may not know the level of importance attached to the state funeral invitations but the norm is they would have been delivered by a government messenger carrying a book to certify receipt by the invitee! I am sorry its government fibbing here to exploit the funeral for political gains against the opposition! Covid has nothing to do with the state despicable plan!
UNDERSTAND THIS GOVERNMENT IS BUILT ON LIES AND DECEIPT
NOW THE WHAT TO BURY KK IN ONE PLACE AND EXHUME HIM LATER
IS THIS NORMAL IN ANYWHERE I THINK NOT ITS PURELY A POLITICAL MOVE BY PF
KK WHILST HE MAY HAVE THE FOUNDING FATHER HE DOESNT DESERVE THIS TREATMENT
PF MUST GO HOW MUCH MORE CAN THE PEOPLE GO THROUGH ?
Owee! He wanted to show you that he got a 100″ LED or 4K TV.
Chases everyone in the livingroom as he poses for a lonely I was not invited posture claiming to be Covid-19 smart.
For sure he is a disgrace.
Who doesn’t own a TV like that as a politician?
Really an under5 at every level of engagement. So politically shabby. Heartless.
The challenge with most UPND supporters is that they try very hard to make HH appear better than he is. How made times has he twisted facts to suit his selfish goals? This man has a bloated ego and UPND supporters can’t see it because they are so blinded by his false image. UPND is simply a cult
The challenge with most UPND supporters is that they try very hard to make HH appear better than he is. How many times has he twisted facts to suit his selfish goals? This man has such a bloated ego which his supporters can’t see becsuse they are blinded by his false image. UPND is simply a cult.
The reason for him not to attend is simple. The invitation cards were in the name of president Lungu whom he does not recognise. What a missed opportunity to meet international leaders for the under five
The man ECL is a very very dull president who can’t even speak his mind and heart when expressing how he felt and how he cried by not reading from his papers which his secretaries authored for him……..you can imagine the president was even reading,”when I heard the passing away of Dr Kaunda I cried”,,,,,,,,,,,where by the Kenyata’s were able to speak their minds heart………That’s how fools behave.
THE DIGNITARIES SAW FOR THEMSELVES WHAT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WROTE IN ITS REPORT ABOUT ZAMBIA.THE SHAMELESS ECL EVEN AHEAD EXPOSING HIMSELF TO THE FOREIGN DIGNITARIES THAT HE IS A VERY CLUE OLD FASHIONED KANKUNI IN ZAMBIA’s STATE HOUSE……..HOWEVER ALL THIS WILL SOON BE HISTORY AND WE THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE WE ARE SEEING WHAT IS GOING ON BUT SYMPATHIZE WITH A FEW MORONS WHO ARE…
Upnd and hh are cheats.Mwanawasa put it very plain as to who hh is.He is not truthful and he pretends to be what he is not.
This shows how petty and stupid PF has become! Every international delegate knows the exact the truth that UPND was not invited. Then when exposed they conflicting statements. Cabinet office says it invited only one opposition leader to represent all opposition. Then lier Malupenga decides to photoshop an invitation card which is way different from others, there by exposing PF stup1dity yet again.
I have always said lies has short legs it does not outrun the truth.
Lungu and his PF are evil.!
PF Lungu must go.
By Wanzelu.
One thing l like about HH is that he decampaigns himself when it matters most. He is simply not meant to be and it shows at every crucial moment.
There’s definitely something wrong with the UPND and its leadership, the best we can do is to ignore them. Now all UPND operatives are posting a list in which they have classified people as northerners. Davis Chama is a Lala from Central province, Michael Katambo is a Lamba from Masaiti, Alexander Chiteme is a Tonga, Chitalu Chilufya is a Lunda, Wanchinga is a Tabwa, Bwalya Ng’andu is a Bisa I don’t need to go on. Hichilema must deal with his tribalism
Crying on paper Ba Kateka Ba ECL.
None of the dignitaries who attended KK’s state funeral will vote but the Zambian people who are seeing this evil today.We are voting you out banesu come 12 August kuya bebele.
Ba ECL your advisors lied to when they told you to go and announce on state funeral that the attendance will only be “invitation” and even emphasizing on the invitation…….Later on the main opposition party leaders not showing up at the state funeral in presence of the many DIGNITARIES WHO ATTENDED THE STATE FUNERAL who were expecting to see the main opposition leader at the stadium…….UMWINE WACHISUSHI ALANDA ATI INSONI EBUNTU NANGU TAKWATAPO INSONI KWATI NICHITONGO UWUFWAYA ABAKUMWEBA KANO BAKALANDILE KUMATAKO,KATWISHI.
TO OUR GUESTS WHO ATTENDED THE STATE FUNERAL…
It is obvious that ECL wanted Political mileage from KK’s Funeral and Popular HH if invited would taken limelight away from him. People were going to give HH a standing ovation much to the embarrassment of ECL. On the ground PF is having a hard time Campaigning as they have no Campaign message. Hence adopting a Tribalism theme. PF has no answers to the collapsing Economy and poor Governance issues. They are trying to weoponise Covid-19 and Tribalism to win the 2021 Elections. PF is using Divide and Rule on Tribal lines to try and win this Election. With Macmillan’s wind of Change is blowing across Zambia and People chanting “we want change..we want change PF is shocked and doesn’t know what to do to reverse their potential electoral loss. ECL wants to go down with the Country…
“Earlier, UPND Presidential spokesperson Spokesman Anthony Bwalya said in a statement his party President Mr. Hichilema had not received any formal invitation to attend the funeral of Dr. Kaunda, while if any such invitation was ever issued to them, no such notice of invitation has ever been delivered to UPND.”
ABA BANTU FIPUBA SANA BALIOCHA INVITATION LETTER TO PROVE A STVP!D POINT. “MULI NKULUNGWE MWALYO MWAKA…” WA LAST NE NTUNGULUSHI YENU UMUNKALWE.
You mean this Boma has done away with MESSENGERS?
They are probably printing the invitation now
Go to the ‘Zambian Observer’ and check out the fake invitation card that the PF has now produced
In our language l believe even in ichitonga names have a meaning. Ichilema would simply mean someone who’s physically disabled but when you look at HH he is not physically challenged or disabled. He is also sober minded and very articulate. Do l then wonder whether his disability is in the spirit ? If that is the case then we’re dealing with a very serious problem that’s at the core of his being and only God can deliver him. In order to be fair to him, I may be of the same view about Ps Nevers Mumba. Probably that’s why the two may Never make it to plot 1.
What HH has done is bad even for his future political history, I just don’t know why those close to him can fail to advise him , while they all know that KK was a father of all Zambian politicians as the first President of Zambia .
Now HH stays back and want some one to invite him to his own father’s funeral is totally wrong no one should invite him since KK didn’t belong to any individual and he was not part of this new political dispensation, KK was not either PF or UPND
UPND were busy campaigning even before the 21 Days morning period expired, this means they have and had bigger and important matters at hand other than our Late Father of the Nation KK’s funeral. Therefore it is not surprising for the situation they have found themselves in and besides they don’t attend national and state functions; From the beginning they don’t support any program being spearheaded by the government. This matter by observation, if you are wise or by Virtue of common sense UPND does not understand the procedure of protocols to attend state function for they do not recognize and respect the President and the government above all the person who died. They are run their business by Kangaroo in the way they want as long as they get to state house and form government.
Just…
I personally I do not blame UPND for the mess they have found themselves in, because they do not understand anything in terms of how the government runs the country and its functions.
For to UPND they will only realize that there is a government when they get into power as for now its crooks and hook period
When Mwanawasa died Sata followed the body almost in all the 9 provinces the body landed. Even when Maureen rejected and disagreed with his presence. And this man just sits in his home comfort(of course alone like always) and pretends to have not been invited. Was waiting for his invitation on ZNBC news or what??
This kind of pride is definitely not suitable for a Zambian. Especially one claiming to love the masses.
Michael Sata was Zambia’s best ever opposition party leader. He scared the hell out of people looking to cause confusion from outside and tormented the government if they misbehaved. Had PF lost, UPND would have been consigned to oblivion. Only regret is that MMD never imagined life as opposition and instead of reorganising for a fight back, they self distructed as a political force. I for one would love to see the revival of UNIP now that the pressure from KK is off. I hope that the youth can pick up the mantle and use a party with the rich historical significance to reshape this country and offer hope. Zambia can only be developed by Zambians, something UPND blind followers can’t see. UPND think they will be darlings to the international community but to achieve that, they need to be…
cont. need to be in power first.
Edgar Lungu wanted to profit from KK’s funeral and his scheme has been exposed.
The evil scheme will not work as KK’s funeral will not reduce the food prices or pay salaries on time.
I like the ignorance displayed by many Zambians who believe Amos Malupenga is saying the truth. You’re really dolts. The two people he mentioned as from the opposition who got invited are clergy. They did not get invited as politicians, but as clergy. Pastors mwefibantu! Why do rats think better than ba PF? Musapota fye ifyabupuba. HH techipuba ngaba fyashi benu abakwata zero ngwee ku bank. He is smart and couldn’t go a place where he is not invited. Lungu did not want HH to meet those leaders who came. He knew HH would be more suitable to them than him. So, HE DID NOT INVITE THE MAN!
We cannot pretend Bane HH is a factor in this election time for reckoning is here Bane Fire Tenders Covid materials Game park animals Auditors Report gasing a few i can mention.
PF must go.
Edgar and his handlers should be ashamed of himself for lying thru his teeth that he invited all the opposition parties to attend the funeral service of KK.
On the eve of the same funeral gathering, Edgar emphasized that attendance to the function would be strictly by card, which most of us knew was meant to block HH and those who don’t toll the PF line. Indeed, our prediction was correct. HH and those on the other side of the fence were not present. If truly Edgar had made an open invitation to the opposition , why is it that he never emphasized on the invitation to the opposition when he was making the announcement? He should have given direction to that effect as he has done today that cards are available for collection from cabinet office but alas ubufi bweka-bweka fye. INSONI…
If HH went to the function without adhering to Edgar’s emphasis that attendance was strictly by card, he was going to be charged with treason. We have come to understand what PF stand for in dealing with HH.